Chapter 264: [264] Stage Two, Introductions

Eliron took in a breath. He already knew the spell he would show Zora, it had been on his mind since the moment he laid eyes on her vibrant hair.

He planted his feet firmly on the floor.

The last time he used this spell, he had been a fledgling, barely able to keep it up for twenty seconds...

Fire leaked out of his back like a river, cascading into the air like the wings of a seraph—

...Back then, it was just a basic application of the spell. That was all he could manage. But now, Eliron was able to push it to the very next step.

The fire gushed out even more vibrantly, a rainbow of fire clashing together, yet untied as one. Blue, crimson, streaks of black, and even colours he could not hope to name...

And then a cape of fire was born, a shroud of unfettered flames.

[Primordial Blaze, Second Stage — God Veil]

Sweat trickled down Eliron’s jaw, a thunder clap followed, and then he unleashed the mana he had been holding back.

His mana howled like an abyssal beast, causing his hair to float in the air. His eyes glowed furiously, like stars about to burst, and all around him, the rocks were uprooted, hovering in the air.

Every single waking hour, every step he took had led him to this point, to this form... His greatest offensive spell yet.

Everyone stared in awe. Not a single word was uttered as they yet watched another miracle descend.

Zora had been right, he was not a saint.

But that was because he had surpassed the confines of sainthood, his fingers grasping at the realm that eluded him still, a Venerable, a Demi god...

"Ready?" He cocked a brow, raising up his sword.

"From the day my mother birthed me." Zora smirked. Lightning sparked, her hair grew more vibrant.

And so the Crimson Lord Of Embers, and the Crimson Blade Berserker—lost in the mirth of battle, bared their fangs, ready to unleash catastrophe upon the desolate forest, when suddenly...

Vwooosh!

There was a gust of wind, and Artie appeared right in front of Eliron, raising her arms. While Indra appeared in front of Zora...

Eliron immediately deactivated his spell to prevent her from getting burned, then lowered his sword, his lips pressed in a straight line. "Artie? What are you doing?"

Artie sighed and organized her hair, which in that short time had been blown into a wiry mess. "Did you forget that this was a spar?"

Eliron frowned slightly. "How could I forget? And how does that explain why you are interrupting my—"

"Look around you." She said plainly.

Eliron took a glance around the forest and then his breath hitched in his throat. "Oh..."

Saying the forest was a mess would have been putting it lightly. Even the SSS dome he had created had been split open by the sheer destructive nature of both their spells.

This was the reason most powerful warriors rarely spared, the damage was almost always catastrophic.

"Zora, it looks like we will have to put our match on—" Eliron turned in her direction then paused. "Heh?"

"LET GO OF ME!" Zora screamed as the oracles piled up on her shoulder, trying to pull her down.

"Zora, you must stop this at once! Do you want to kill all the soldiers??" Alex’s tired voice came.

"I don’t care about those busybodies, let me go at once. Eliron is waiting for me!"

’No I’m not...’’

Artie sighed as she watched the woman, then she placed her hand on Eliron’s shoulder. "Are you feeling better now? These past few days..."

There was worry in her eyes, and the softness of her tone told him how much she had thought about him.

Was he feeling better?

The incident at the Donia port was still very fresh in his mind. It was not the undead he killed that bothered him, that was a necessity.

But seeing so many people lose their lives, all because of a war that they knew nothing about... it was grating.

He had heard of it, the countless number of cities that had been overrun, the slaughter that had occurred in them.

But back then, they were mere words. It was only on that day that he managed to see just a glimpse of what was happening outside their walls, did realisation fully dawn in him.

’He even almost got Ciera...’

Saving her from the curse had been a tumultuous experience. If not that she at least possessed a small core, which was now gone, she would have been lost.

He breathed out a sigh, staring up at the starry sky.

Normally, Eliron was not the type to take something so personally, but after what he witnessed, it had become a personal affair.

The second apostle’s mistake was his attack on the capital. For it, Eliron would make him suffer many times over. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"The spar was a good way to lose some pent up steam. But I think I sorted out my mind long before now."

Artie smiled. "Just as expected." And then suddenly, without any warning, she pulled him into a hug.

"Eh?" Eliron did not know how to react to it, it had just been so sudden...

Her body felt cold to the touch, not because she was cold. It was just that Eliron’s fire spell had made him several times hotter.

"What is this for?" He asked in a jovial tone.

Artie being compassionate? Eliron wondered if the sky would soon rain pigs.

Artie took a step back, cocked her head to the side and smiled. "Nothing. It’s cold, are you saying I can’t steal some of your warmth?"

Her smile transformed into a small smirk. "Oh." She placed her hand over her mouth in mock concern. "How inconsiderate of me, did I, did that hug awaken some sort of primal desire within you?"

"If you want we can take it a step further, the night is chilly after al—" Eliron placed his hand over her mouth. Artie smiled and winked at him.

...Andd she was back, Artie in her finest form.

<•••>

When they finally managed to tame Zora, they returned to the campsite, all seven oracles as well as the wood elves seated around a large fire.

Because of Zora’s harsh reception, they had been unable to have any fruitful discussion, talk more of introducing themselves.

So they decided to do it over dinner.

Ironically, Zora who had been the cause of the rough meeting was now sitting next to Eliron, both of them discussing the fight in friendly tones, while Jade periodically hissed at her from her position, seating on his legs.

Well, Zora was not exactly next to Eliron, Artie would never allow it. She was sitting next to Artie, who was sitting next to Eliron...

"Alright, Alex stood up and walked into the center of their campsite, standing next to the fire. "I guess introductions are in order..."

One of the oracles stood up and bowed at the group. Her hazelnut skin was brought to life by the fire, a pair of sharp grey eyes staring at the group.

Her short, curly dark hair brushed her jaw as she bowed at the group. "Tiosa." She said with a warm smile. "Seventh oracle."

A burly man got up next, his body a nest of scars. Yet the scars could not take Eliron’s eyes off his bald head which glowed like a beacon.

He had a large shield that must have weighed a ton, and a dagger that was sheathed on his waist. A tank from what Eliron could see.

"Leroy Stone." He bowed as well before returning to his seat.

The woman next to him jabbed him in the ribs. "You forgot your rank, you oaf."

"Ahh? I did??" He chuckled. "Sixth oracle!" He quickly added.

The woman chuckled then got to her feet, a wide grin on her face as she confidently stomped forward. She was short, likely even smaller than Jade, but from the way she carried herself, Eliron could tell that she was not a child.

Her ashen-brown hair was voluminous, covering most of her face and eyes, but from the side, Eliron could see a very rounded ear peaking out. A dwarf.

Donia was a large kingdom, it was not unexpected that a dwarf would be in the capital. What Eliron had not expected was to find a dwarf as part of the oracles.

’Are their ties to the dwarves really that strong?’

When she got to the center, she waved, practically bouncing on her feet as she introduced herself.

"Melody Grace, fourth oracle! It’s great to meet you all!"

"I like that one..." Jade smiled as Melody winked at her, or was it him? She waved back at the dwarf, something glinting in her orange eyes.

Eliron did not know how to feel about her comment, especially since centuries ago, dwarves were a popular snack among the dragons.

He swallowed. ’Should I be concerned?’

One by one, people from both sides got up to introduce themselves, casual conversation sparking up as they discussed.

And then finally, the last person stood up and walked to the center of the camp. The fire flickered as a strong gust of wind blew past them, a tension stirring in the air.

There was a cold look in her eyes as she glanced at Eliron.

An expression just as icy as the snow, a straight, perfect posture, and arrogant confidence in magic, born out of years of dominion over the other races.

A high elf.